Avalanche Talk

| February 8, 2012

I’m going to be partaking in an informal avalanche roundtable discussion tomorrow night (probably tonight by the time you read this..), Thursday, Feb 9th at 7:00pm at the Black Diamond Retail Store.  It will also include Brett “Cowboy” Kobernick from the UAC and Dave Richards from the Wasatch BC Rescue.  I’m looking forward to it as it is the topic is how to ski big lines, which is something that is not usually discussed in avalanche classes. My thoughts and theories are on this topic are hardly ISSW sanctioned, but I have picked up some tidbits of advice from people over the years and learned more than a few lessons the hard way.  I’m still organizing my part of it, but potential topics may include:

  • The hidden dangers of 60 degree slopes
  • The power of a big quiver
  • Lou Dawson on “Why it never gets better.”
  • Trusting your instincts
  • Ski like a Hedge Fund
  • Doug Coombs on “Nibbling”
  • Bob Athey on taking the high road
  • Redefining challenge
  • Doing it for the children
  • The only known cure for avalanches and seasickness

I think I’m limited to 15 minutes, so some of these may not get covered.  My goal is to avoid mentioning the F word  (f*cets) or the flakes of ill repute (hoars) even a single time.  I expect these theories to get flushed straight down the avalanche sewer, so this might be your only chance to hear them.  For good measure, I’ll throw in a photo of a naked female.
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Help support StraightChuter.com and probe through the F-words with a Pieps Aluminium Tour XL Probe from Backcountry.com. Click on the photo below…

Category: Announcements

About the Author ()

Andrew McLean lives in Park City, Utah and is a gear designer, writer, photographer, ski mountaineer, climber, Mountain Unicycle rider and father of two very loud little girls.

Comments (14)

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  1. ash says:

    Can you post a video?

  2. Andy says:

    Is there any chance that you could either record or write down some of these things? Maybe a series of blog posts? Not all of us live in UT, and there are some big lines and a sketchy snowpack (s-word?) here in CO as well.

  3. swing-a-dead-cat says:

    Hey Andrew,
    Well I for one would love to hear your a ideas regarding the above mentioned topics. No way i’m gonna make it to SLC for your talk though. Not to mention the 15 min. time constraints of your presentation. How about an extended post?

  4. Smokey says:

    Anyway to record and post it?

  5. Andy_L says:

    Second that. Maybe you could do a highlights post afterward? As you say, do it for the kids! :)

  6. mtsplitski says:

    Third! I wish I could be a part of this, but alas I’m in Montana. I would love to see a video recording if possible…

  7. Kim says:

    Third for suggestion to post a summary or recording. Even if its a few dot points under each heading.

  8. Mike W says:

    Yeah ‘third that’ Sounds really interesting and would love to see a YouTube of that (know it’s too late to influence now)

  9. d3 says:

    not sure anyone has mentioned this but maybe you can post some footie?

  10. Andrew says:

    No footsie, but I am working on posting this as a ten part series, which given my parenting duties, means it will probably get stretched out over the next 100 years. :)

  11. Tyler Falk says:

    Great information last night in the presentation Andrew! It was nice chatting with you after about the ski-link. Thanks for all you do in the community!

  12. Nohow says:

    Should we just wait for the book? How is that coming?

  13. Andrew says:

    The book has taken a slight detour and will now include a chapter on changing diapers.

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